heeter3
Member
RON O,you know that you've got to keep that beauty and make sure it stays in the family.
Grandpas S&W .38
- Thread starter Ron O
- Start date
Nick43
Member
I have a nearly identical 1905 that my S&W Letter dates to 1927. When my uncle joined the PD in the 50's he had to buy his own uniform and firearm. A friend gifted him the revolver and that was what he carried until his retirement (in the 70's, I believe).
PRM1
Member
I started my career as a Deputy Sheriff in the mid-70s. Most departments in that era (except for the larger ones) required officers to furnish their own firearms. Guidelines were also pretty standard, Colt or S&W, .38 or 357, with a four inch barrel for patrol. You wound up with officers carrying what they could afford. Family heirlooms were not unusual.
b737lvr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2025
- Messages
- 104
- Reaction score
- 296
There are plenty of agencies still practicing this today. Buy your own gun. I personally agree with it because the patrolman is financially incentivized to take care of it. I have a lot of respect for 20th century policeman. It took a lot of guts to do the job and often times you were on your own to deal with things. Meanwhile, every deputy here in my county these days is dressed like they’re invading Normandy and have zero professional skills when handling disputes. America did a great job scaring off great men from law enforcement.
My Dad was also a Deputy Sherriff in the 70's and had to buy his own firearm. He bought a Colt Python .357. I will have that one in my possession soon.
PRM1
Member
Yeah, money was tight. Colts in the 70s were around $50-$75 dollars higher than S&Ws. I started with S&Ws but did eventually get a Python.
Love my S&Ws and Colts. I once worked for an old Sheriff who was a Colt only guy. He used to say "I'd rather live next door to a man who owns a Colt as to have anything else." Both brands are top shelf. I generally carry a Model 60-4, 3 inch. Size and concealment carry the day for me. If I'm traveling and driving through some sketchy areas, I'll have my Gen 4, Glock 19. It's hard not to appreciate 15 rounds.
DWalt
Member
A letter might be worthwhile, at the very least it will give you a shipping date and to where it was shipped, which could be anywhere. Probably not to your grandfather. S&W rarely shipped directly to individual purchasers, mainly to distributors, dealers, or law enforcement agencies. A 1925 shipping date is most probable. A letter will tell you nothing about your gun’s history after it left the factory, so don’t get your hopes up that it will say anything about your grandpa. Your revolver would have been cataloged as a .38 Military and Police Revolver, Square Butt. (No “1905” nomenclature was used by S&W in 1925). One very interesting item is that it has those later target grips which do have some value.You can safely shoot any .38 Special factory ammunition you wish in it. But there is little reason to use anything other than the lowest priced ammunition you can locate, at least for recreational use.
Last edited:
larryLegendary
Member
LarryLegend
Agree 100%...To the average revolver carrier in the 1960's a 1920's revolver was only 35-40 years old and was probably indistinguishable from its 1960's counterparts...That would be like someone carrying a 1990 Glock 17 now....The near identical gun can still be bought and it takes a little bit of hard looking to distinguish between generations.
Up until very recently, I had two Colt Official Police revolvers. One was made 1928 and the other 1969. Other than a slight lettering font difference on the barrel, they were visually identical....4 inch barrels, .38 special, near identical stocks... Plus my former department just NOW finally phased out their Model 10's, M64's and Model 67's.
Jerry M
Member
This is very good advise.
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 26,083
- Reaction score
- 46,775
You are correct. It is rather nicely done. It was probably bead blasted instead of being buffed.
b737lvr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2025
- Messages
- 104
- Reaction score
- 296
Colt revolvers have always presented themselves better, especially when new, than a smith & Wesson but unfortunately that’s about where the buck stops. My experience with colt revolvers has been pretty bad no matter when they’re made, even the new ones. They notoriously wear themselves out of time very quickly and almost always at the fault of the pawl self destructing with normal use. Meanwhile, I’ve seen beaten worn 50+ year old smith & wessons run like new, including my own 120 year old hand ejector.
It’s gotten to the point where whenever I see a used colt on the shelf I have to assume something is wrong with it. I’ve been right just about every time with very rare exception.
Not my experience at all.... Colt Police Positives are equal in fit and finish and quality control as any Model 10. I also have a 1969 Trooper MKIII and it is an awesome gun, equal to any 586 if not better...
I think the Pythons got this reputation and it somehow permeated to all Colts.
